Stunning before and after photos show the new lease of life given to a former cargo ship when it was transformed into a luxury houseboat.

The De Novatie, a Belgian Kempenaar boat originally built in 1957, began its life transporting goods to and from ports across the world, but now it is destined to spend its days sailing along the Cas Oorthuyskade canals in Amsterdam.

Dutch architects ANA converted the vessel into a 'house in a ship', complete with master bedroom, smaller passenger-style cabin rooms for children, a kitchen, pantry, bathroom and various seating areas across the ship including one within the wheelhouse.

Rejecting traditional boat designs, the ship has adopted a minimalist style with a white-walled and wood-panelled interior, and it is arranged in a way that makes the kitchen the focal point of the boat.

The De Novatie, a Kempenaar boat originally built in 1957, has been completely transformed from a cargo ship into a luxury houseboat. The wheelhouse, pictured, serves as a seating area for the owners

The deck of the boat, which used to hold the bulk of the cargo the ship was moving, has been stripped out and changed into a sundeck so the owners can enjoy the views of the Cas Oorthuyskade canals in Amsterdam on sunny days

The owners wanted to create a 'house in a ship', utilising the large hull and length of the ship to create a home that was spacious and comfortable

At the centre of the top deck, which previously held the bulk of the cargo being transported, a small terrace has been cut out so that the owners can enjoy the view from on top of their boat on sunny days in the Dutch capital.

A spokesperson for the ANA said of the ship: 'Spatiality, high quality of living and sustainability formed the starting point for the design.

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'The client wanted a ship that would house a house in a ship - spacious and comfortable. In response, the linear system of switched spaces that characterizes many residential ships was set aside in this design.

'Sight lines run over the entire length of the ship and there are views across the different floors. These lines of sight were created by a terrace that was hung in the middle of the 4.5-metre-high space and fill the construction with glass.

The kitchen forms a focal point for the boat and has a dining room table within it. The room is incredibly light thanks to the steps leading up to the sundeck as well as wide windows near the ceiling

ANA architects rejected traditional boat designs for the boat and instead went for a minimalist interior with white walls and wooden panelling. The bedrooms for the children are small and retain their passenger cabin roots and are accessed through large sliding doors

Although the boat lacks a proper living room, there are several seating areas, including within the kitchen (pictured), and the wheelhouse

'In addition, windows in the wheelhouse, portholes and a patio provide more light and sightlines. The use of material is reticent. The design does not want to imply, it forms a background to which living can take place.

'A concrete floor, white walls facilitate this simplicity. At the same time, oak wood multifunctional furniture draws attention and connects the different spaces.'

The ship has no gas on board and instead uses an air-water heat pump to warm up the ship through underfloor heating, and solar PV-panels are due to be placed on the roof.

A spokesperson for the architecture firm said: 'Windows in the wheelhouse, portholes and a patio provide more light and sightlines. The design does not want to imply, it forms a background to which living can take place'

There is no gas aboard the De Novatie. Instead, the ship is warmed by an air-water heat pump through underfloor heating, and solar PV-panels are going to be placed on the roof

The spokesperson added: 'In the design clear choices for the use and layout of the different spaces were made.

'The bedrooms of the children are designed as passenger cabins; small and functional. They are open to the multifunctional hall through a large sliding door.

'This renovation gave the ship a second life. To make the ship habitable it was completely isolated (filled with foam). The existing aluminium and single glass windows were replaced by handmade mahogany frames and double glazing.'

The boat contains a master bedroom, smaller passenger-style cabin rooms for children, a kitchen, pantry, bathroom (pictured) and a seating area within the wheelhouse